You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1607-Twins-2013-A-Start-that-Impresses

I agree that the overall health of the Twins has improved markedly. After two years of everything going wrong it figures that some things will go surprisingly well. For the big league club, two numbers stand out--their 4-0 record in one-run games and the bullpen ERA of 2.15 with a 4-1 W/L record. It figures that the Twins will hit better down the road, but it also figures that they will pitch less well. They currently have a negative run differential, which predicts troubles ahead, unless you are the 2012 Oriole.

They currently have a negative run differential, which predicts troubles ahead, unless you are the 2012 Oriole.

 

Or maybe the W-L is a leading indicator and the run scoring will step up to match.

(copying and pasting because it got lost when it got promoted to an article)

 

I am really happy about the Twins start. Really happy. And much better than 2012 (and 2011). BUT...

 

I am not impressed. I'd be impressed if they were 12-3 or something (like Colorado and Atlanta)

 

I think that it is promising (and I second all about the minor leaguers and the pipeline) but I am not about to applaud mediocrity...

 

Sorry

General comment related to this article: Is it just me, or does it seem like it is "cool" or even "smart" now to rip the Twins, even though they are playing well. Count me as one that is getting a little tired of this. The jaded group within the fanbase is expecting the Twins to crash any day now, but until it does I am going to enjoy it. It is all we can do, as the current 8-7 record is real and the future truly is unknown.

Also--isn't it a little early for run differential to be predicting trouble? Definitely too small of a sample size. Take out one game (April 12) and the Twins would have a positive run differential.

It's baseball. 15 games just doesn't tell you a lot. I'm more intrigued by the good starts by some of the prospects.

Love watching the twins right now and reading about these up and comers. Can't wait to see these kids play on a daily basis and see who sticks from the present club (probs just mauer). Hopefully the good times keep rolling.

General comment related to this article: Is it just me, or does it seem like it is "cool" or even "smart" now to rip the Twins, even though they are playing well.

 

It could be part of the character of Minnesotans. I remember in 1987, when the Twins reached the postseason the attitude was "well isn't that nice, I just hope the boys don't embarrass themselves," then "hey, they actually won a game, won't be a sweep," then "whoa, two wins, what is this?", then "I see the Tigers won a game, looks like the luck has run out," et cetera, right up through the World Series win.

 

You want real pessimism, try Philly or Boston.

However mediocre the 2013 Twins really are it's still a boon to my sensibilities as a Twin fan. The club is worth watching, and it's exciting to track our guys in the minors.

 

I've always been fascinated by those Organization Rankings some sites published; I wonder how much jump we'll see for the Twins after this season...

I can understand Philly but Bostonians have celebrated championships in 3 of the major sports recently. Minnesotans haven't had a championship for a generation, and pretty sparse success before then. Unless you're a nut for Gophers hockey I guess in which case you are probably a violently negative person even in celebration.

The Twins are 9-7. They haven't been at 500 except 0-0 since the 2010 season. So in 2011 & 2012 they never even gave us any hope. This year we are 16 games in and they are two games over 500. That's a huge positive. They can totally suck 58-88 40% clip the rest of the way and still finish better than last year and that's a pretty brutal finish.

I can understand Philly but Bostonians have celebrated championships in 3 of the major sports recently.

 

Oh, probably I'm not giving Boston a fair shake. The last time I was there happened to be the morning after they went to 0-3 in an obscure 7-game series against the Yankees. Talk radio as we were driving that morning was all Bob Freakin' Stanley this, and Bill Freakin' Buckner that. It was glorious. The patented fatalism died that year of course.

However mediocre the 2013 Twins really are it's still a boon to my sensibilities as a Twin fan. The club is worth watching, and it's exciting to track our guys in the minors.

 

I've always been fascinated by those Organization Rankings some sites published; I wonder how much jump we'll see for the Twins after this season...

All the way up to "#6 org?" Let's hope not.